### River Plate Dominates Urawa Red Diamonds in Club World Cup Opener River Plate kicked off their Club World Cup campaign with a decisive 3-1 victory over Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds on June 18, 2025. The Argentine team showcased their strength early in the match, with Facundo Colidio scoring the first goal in the 12th minute, followed by contributions from Sebastian Driussi and Maxi Meza. Despite a spirited effort from Urawa, which included a penalty goal from Yusuke Matsuo, River Plate maintained control throughout the match, demonstrating their readiness for the tournament ahead [https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/river-plate-see-off-urawa-to-make-winning-start-at-club-world-cup][https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/sports-games/3461592-river-plate-triumphs-in-club-world-cup-opener-with-3-1-victory]. ### Breakdown of River Plate's Performance 1. **Match Overview** - River Plate secured a 3-1 victory against Urawa Red Diamonds. - Goals were scored by Facundo Colidio, Sebastian Driussi, and Maxi Meza. - The match took place at Lumen Field in Seattle. 2. **Key Moments** - Colidio opened the scoring with a header from a cross by Marcos Acuña in the 12th minute. - Driussi doubled the lead shortly after halftime but was injured during the celebration. - Urawa responded with a penalty goal by Matsuo in the 58th minute. - Meza restored River's two-goal lead in the 73rd minute. 3. **Statistical Highlights** - River Plate dominated possession with nearly 60% of the ball. - They attempted 13 shots compared to Urawa's 9. - Goalkeeper Franco Armani made 5 saves, while Urawa's Shusaku Nishikawa had 2 saves [https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/sports-games/3461723-river-plate-triumphs-in-club-world-cup-opener-amidst-drama][https://www.yardbarker.com/soccer/articles/river_plate_score_3_headers_dominate_urawa_in_club_world_cup/s1_17184_42340959]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Goals Scored:** - 12' - Facundo Colidio (Header) - 50' - Sebastian Driussi (Goal) - 58' - Yusuke Matsuo (Penalty) - 73' - Maxi Meza (Goal) - **Match Statistics:** - **Possession:** River Plate 60% - Urawa Red Diamonds 40% - **Shots:** River Plate 13 - Urawa Red Diamonds 9 - **Saves:** Franco Armani 5 - Shusaku Nishikawa 2 [https://apnews.com/article/club-world-cup-river-plate-urawa-red-diamonds-score-42041fc862d09b67712a6da777822901][https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/river-plate-ease-past-urawa-210755382.html]. ### Conclusion: River Plate's Strong Start in the Club World Cup In summary, River Plate's 3-1 victory over Urawa Red Diamonds marks a strong start to their Club World Cup journey. The team's early dominance, highlighted by Colidio's opening goal and a solid performance from Driussi and Meza, sets a positive tone for their upcoming matches. Despite the injury to Driussi, River Plate's overall control of the game and effective offensive strategy suggest they are well-prepared for the challenges ahead in the tournament. 1. **Victory Secured:** River Plate wins 3-1. 2. **Key Players:** Colidio, Driussi, and Meza shine. 3. **Next Steps:** Focus on maintaining momentum in the tournament [https://buenosairesherald.com/sports/football/argentina/river-wins-on-cwc-debut-whats-next-for-gallardos-team].